Dr. Francisco Jiménez emigrated with his family to California from Tlaquepaque, Mexico, and as a child he worked in the fields of California. He is currently the Fay Boyle Professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at Santa Clara University. He has published several books on Mexican and Mexican-American Literature – including two for children. His books are available in English and Spanish, and some have been translated into other languages such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Italian.
In Pescadero, Professor Jiménez gave two presentations:
At Pescadero High School he shared tales from his life as a farmworker boy, the struggles of his family and the positive influences that help him decide to go to college.
At Pescadero Elementary, he read in English and Spanish his work of La Mariposa, an illustrated story based on his life in elementary school.
For more information about Professor Jiménez, visit his website: http://www.scu.edu/cas/modernlanguages/facultystaff/jimenezhomepage.cfm
His visit was sponsored through a grant from Cal Humanities. Support for the project was provided by Photo4Change, a Tides Center Project, KPDO, Half Moon Bay Library and Puente. Special thanks to Pescadero High School teacher, Randy Vail, and Sally Bachman, Photo4 Change, for coordinating the visit.
- Professor Jimenez reading from his book “La Mariposa” (The butterfly)
- Francisco Jimenez talking to students of Pescadero High School
- Professor Francisco Jimenez
- Student Arturo Vazquez introducing Professor Jimenez at Pescadero High School
- PES High School students Corina Rodriguez and Aldo Flores interviewing Professor Jimenez before his presentation